Chapter Thirty-Seven
Sofia
I’m freezingmy ass off.
“If Tennessee could decide what season it wants to be in, that would be friggin’ great.”
My mom’s laughter fills my ear as I hold my phone to it. The brisk wind hits me in the face, freezing my earlobes and nose. “Jesus Christ.”
My mother gasps very dramatically. “Ah, bella! The Lord’s name!”
“Sorry, Mom,” I mutter. But I’m so freaking cold!
“Why are you outside? Go sit in the car.”
“No,” I protest. “I want to be standing here, all excited, when Ryan gets off the plane.”
“Oh, he is coming home today, isn’t he?” Mom asks, and even in the cold, I can’t help but grin widely.
Nine days. He’s been gone nine whole days.
It’s been tough, but it was doable, which I am very excited about. I hope he is too. Now I just need his plane to land and for him to get off it!
“Yup, I’m excited. I wore a dress.”
“A dress? For what?”
“To surprise him.”
“How nice. He’ll like that. You have great legs.”
It’s not my legs he’s gonna like, more the fact that I’m not wearing panties. Which is one of the reasons I’m slowly but surely freezing my ass off. Literally. “Yeah, if I still have legs when this plane lands.”
“You’re crazy. So I guess it’s serious between you two?”
“I’d say so.” I grin as I dance around, trying to get some blood flowing to heat me up. “He’s great, Mom. I think you’ll love him. He’s very kind.”
“Ah, I can’t wait to meet him, bella. Hopefully in Missouri,” she mentions, and my heart drops. “Will he come, maybe?”
“Mom, I told you I don’t want you making that big trip. It’s not good—”
“Ah, bella, don’t worry about me, I want to see my baby perform as a collegiate gymnast. I didn’t get to see you as an Olympian.”
“Because I’m not one.”
“Exactly, so I’m coming.”
I close my eyes. “No, give me a few more weeks. I should be able to get the money together. I’ve been really kicking it hard in the gym, and Mrs. Justice hasn’t had many events lately. Her regular staff takes those.”
“My bella, you don’t have to pay for me to come.”
“I want to. Please let me. Don’t drive to Missouri. Please.”
“Ah, I don’t know,” she says, and then the plane is pulling in. My heart pounds in my chest, excitement rushes through my body, and I almost come out of my skin.
He’s home.
Ryan is home.
“Okay, Mom, I love you so much, but Ryan just got here. Can I call you later?”
“Of course, of course. I love you too, bella.”
I hang up, tucking my phone into the pocket of my puffy jacket, and I wish it were a parka. When the door opens and people begin to file out, I forget about the cold. My excitement takes over as the team starts to deplane. They’re all huge and very well dressed. This Assassins team has some hotties, but I want to see my hottie. Impatiently, I watch as each player rushes to his family, and my heart aches watching them. The kids all jump on their daddies, while the players all rush to kiss their wives. It’s so sweet.
But when my gaze lands on Ryan, I’m glad I’m not in a parka.
His eyes widen, and a grin spreads across his beautiful face. I’m bouncing on my toes, and I can’t believe he’s here. I start for him as he comes down the stairs, his eyes only on me. We meet in the middle, and I knock into him like a ton of bricks, but he stands tall, wrapping his arms around me tightly as our mouths meet. Good Lord, I’ve missed this mouth. I grip his shoulders as his bag hits the ground, and he lifts me off my feet. Man, I’ve missed all of him!
When he pulls back, his eyes are bright and knock the breath out of me. “Fucking hell, I’ve missed you.”
I squeal in delight. Yes, I squeal. “Not as much as I’ve missed you.”
He lowers me to my feet, his eyes still burning into mine. “Jesus, Sofia, did you get even more gorgeous, or have I just missed the fuck out of you?” he asks, taking my face in his hands. My heart sings for him. “And you’re wearing a dress. You trying to kill me?”
“And no panties,” I say with a wink, and his grin turns devilish.
“That’s just rude. We’re going to my mom’s from here.”
I shrug, my eyes twinkling. “Who says we can’t take a small little detour and have some fun? I cleaned your truck.”
He shoots me a deadpan expression, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “Of course you did, you crazy person.” He wraps his arms around me, pulling me in close. “Let’s get in the truck. You look like you’re freezing.”
“I am,” I say happily. “But seeing your face when you saw me was totally worth it.”
He flashes me a grin before grabbing his bag, and we head for the truck. Opening the door for me, he helps me in, but before I can sit down, he lifts my skirt.
I cry out, smacking his hands away. “Ah! Cold.”
“Ha, your ass is beet red.”
“I’m cold!”
He chuckles as he throws his bag at my feet. Leaning in, he takes my mouth once more, and I arch into him, missing the feel of his lips. His hand slowly snakes between my legs, cupping me as he continues to draw the kisses out of me. When he pulls back, he flashes me a grin. “Think I can get you off right here?”
“Ryan,” I gasp, pressing my fingers into his chest. His fingers move along my nether lips, and I’m breathless at his touch. “People are…oh, oh my…around.”
His eyes are full of desire. “But I want to watch you come,” he whispers just as his finger slides between my lips, finding my nub. I gasp, holding on to his chest as he takes a step toward me, his body acting as a shield as he flicks his fingers along my clit. “Do you know how hot you make me?” he mutters against my lips. He then runs his tongue over my bottom lip. “I only had a screen to see you on, and you wouldn’t even do this for me?”
I laugh as my head falls back. “I was shy.”
“There is nothing about you that’s shy. You are a fucking tease,” he mutters against the side of my mouth. “You wanted to drive me crazy for the last nine days so that when I got here, the first thing I’d wanna do was get deep inside you.”
I snort, but then I moan. I’m conflicted. “For one… Oh God, oh yes, I like that,” I pant out as he curves his fingers up inside me.
“As you were saying?” he asks wickedly.
I’m too lost to care, though. “You’d want me this bad even if I had masturbated for you.”
“Oh, you’re fucking right, I would,” he says huskily against my lips. “And you are very lucky we’re in a parking lot, or I’d take you right here.”
“See, this has nothing to do with me—”
“Baby, it has everything to do with you,” he promises, and like that, I come undone.
In the middle of an airport parking lot on Christmas Eve.
The Virgin Mary would be so proud.